JACKSON, Wyo. — The Bureau of Reclamation is hosting a public presentation covering system operations in the upper Snake River basin, Thursday Sept. 14 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Teton County Library.
“Topics will include facility operation and maintenance, water operations and other resource management associated with Reclamation’s Minidoka Project,” the press release from the Bureau of Reclamation announcing the meeting states. “Additionally, Water District 01 staff will share information about water rights administration in Idaho.”
This past May, the Bureau of Reclamation received backlash from the local community after it announced that flows out of Jackson Lake would be reduced to 50 cubic feet per second (cfs), well below the 280 cfs needed to maintain the fisheries below the dam. The Bureau said the reduction in flow was necessary to prevent water from leaving the system and spilling over Milner Dam downstream in Idaho due to the above-average snowpack.
The state of Wyoming and the Bureau of Reclamation were able to reach an agreement before the drawdown occurred, in which the state used its water account to maintain flows at 280 cfs. Flows were increased in July to 2,000 cfs.
“The upper Snake River system is complex and can be challenging to manage at times,” Snake River Area Manager Lanie Paquin said. “We value collaboration with our partners and want to contribute to the public’s understanding of the multifaceted nature of water management.”
According to the press release, this public meeting is the first of a series of public meetings to help ensure the public has an enhanced working knowledge of the upper Snake River system.
A virtual option is also available through Microsoft Teams. (Meeting ID:244666171463 Passcode: WWKbur)
